Roh gov`t proposed defining Japan as `hypothetical enemy`

Roh gov`t proposed defining Japan as `hypothetical enemy`

Posted July. 03, 2012 00:16,

Updated January. 01, 1970 09:00

Roh gov`t proposed defining Japan as `hypothetical enemy`.
July. 03, 2012 00:16.
sungho@donga.com.
Rep. Chung Mong-joon (photo), former leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, said Monday, The Roh Moo-hyun administration proposed that the U.S. define Japan as a hypothetical enemy.
President Roh proposed it because the general public had bad feelings against Japan and Korea had a territorial dispute over the Dokdo islets with Japan, Chung told reporters at the National Assembly, adding, Washington was very embarrassed since it had hoped Korea and Japan would go hand-in-hand as free and democratic countries. A hypothetical enemy in English implies a main enemy. This happened in a ministerial meeting in which commanders as well as ministers were attending.
When asked for more details about the talks, Chung said the meeting was the Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul in October 2005. The Roh administration proposed to delete a clause reconfirming the provision of the U.S. nuclear umbrella from the joint communique and Roh also proposed a hypothetical enemy in relation to Japan in the meeting.
Chung claimed this in the 2006 national audit of the Korean Embassy in Washington, and that he confirmed it from both Korean and U.S. officials.

Rep. Chung Mong-joon (photo), former leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, said Monday, The Roh Moo-hyun administration proposed that the U.S. define Japan as a hypothetical enemy.

President Roh proposed it because the general public had bad feelings against Japan and Korea had a territorial dispute over the Dokdo islets with Japan, Chung told reporters at the National Assembly, adding, Washington was very embarrassed since it had hoped Korea and Japan would go hand-in-hand as free and democratic countries. A hypothetical enemy in English implies a main enemy. This happened in a ministerial meeting in which commanders as well as ministers were attending.

When asked for more details about the talks, Chung said the meeting was the Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul in October 2005. The Roh administration proposed to delete a clause reconfirming the provision of the U.S. nuclear umbrella from the joint communique and Roh also proposed a hypothetical enemy in relation to Japan in the meeting.

Chung claimed this in the 2006 national audit of the Korean Embassy in Washington, and that he confirmed it from both Korean and U.S. officials.